Crucial P310 2TB M.2 2230 SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe, Up to 7,100MB/s, Ideal for Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, MSI Claw, Mini PCs & Ultrabooks, Solid State Drive - CT2000P310SSD2
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AI Verdict
This 2TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 2230 SSD delivers up to 7,100MB/s read and 6,000MB/s write, ideal for handheld gaming devices and ultrabooks.
This 2TB M.2 2230 SSD is a strong fit for handheld gaming consoles and compatible ultrabooks due to its compact form factor and high sequential read/write speeds of 7,100MB/s and 6,000MB/s, respectively. Its power-efficient design also helps extend battery life in portable devices.
If you need higher write endurance for intensive tasks, look for drives with a higher TBW rating and potentially TLC NAND.
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Pros
- Achieves sequential read speeds up to 7,100MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 6,000MB/s, closely matching advertised figures.
- Offers 2TB of storage in a compact M.2 2230 form factor, fitting devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally.
- Engineered for low power draw, which extends battery life in handheld consoles and laptops.
- Includes a 5-year warranty, providing extended coverage.
- Utilizes Micron's 232-layer QLC NAND and a Phison PS5027-E27T controller for its performance.
Cons
- Features a low write endurance rating of 440 TBW for the 2TB model, which is significantly less than some competitors.
- Performance in medium workloads and random 4K operations can be lower compared to some other drives.
- Uses QLC NAND, which can experience performance degradation after its Host Memory Buffer (HMB) cache is exhausted during large, sustained write operations.
- Lacks a dedicated DRAM cache, relying on HMB, which can affect performance consistency in demanding tasks.
Dimension Scores
The drive delivers sequential read speeds up to 7,100MB/s and write speeds up to 6,000MB/s, which is at the higher end for PCIe Gen4 2230 SSDs.
While backed by a 5-year warranty, the 440 TBW endurance rating for 2TB is below average compared to many other 2TB NVMe drives.
Offering 2TB in the M.2 2230 form factor is a significant capacity for its size, especially for handheld gaming devices.
Designed specifically for handheld gaming consoles like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, along with certain ultrabooks, it has broad compatibility within its niche form factor.
Best For
- Upgrading storage in Valve Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, or MSI Claw handheld gaming consoles.
- Expanding capacity in compatible ultrabooks or mini PCs that require an M.2 2230 form factor.
- Users prioritizing high sequential read speeds for faster game loading and system boot times.
- Casual gamers and home users needing 2TB of storage for games and media in a small device.
Not Recommended For
- Users performing frequent, large-volume write operations where a high TBW rating is critical.
- Workstations or servers requiring sustained, high-performance random I/O and maximum endurance.
- Devices that only support larger M.2 2280 SSDs without an adapter.
Watch Out For
- The 2TB model's write endurance is 440 TBW, which is almost three times lower than some competing 2TB M.2 2230 drives like the WD_BLACK SN770M 2TB (1200 TBW).
- Medium workload results and 3DMark Storage Benchmark figures were below average in some professional tests.
- Performance can drop when the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) cache is full, particularly after transferring around 350GB of data at once.
- While it runs cool, it does not include a heatsink, which might be a consideration for some installations.
Full Specifications
| ASIN | B0D61SDZD2 |
| Brand | Crucial |
| Color | Black |
| Series | P310 |
| Voltage | 28 Volts |
| Language | Italian |
| Batteries | 1 AAAA batteries required. |
| Hard Drive | 2 TB Solid State Drive |
| Item Weight | 0.092 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Crucial |
| Special Feature | Portable |
| Installation Type | Internal Hard Drive |
| Item model number | CT2000P310SSD2 |
| Compatible Devices | Handheld Gaming Consoles |
| Product Dimensions | 1.18 x 0.87 x 0.9 inches |
| Hard Disk Interface | NVMe |
| Computer Memory Type | DIMM |
| Hard Drive Interface | NVMe |
| Hard Disk Description | Solid State Drive |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 2.5 Inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 1.18 x 0.87 x 0.9 inches |
| Connectivity Technology | NVMe |
| Digital Storage Capacity | 2 TB |
| Standing screen display size | 16 Inches |
What Buyers Say
Professional reviews frequently highlight the P310's surprisingly high sequential speeds for a 2230 drive, often matching or exceeding larger 2280 counterparts in linear tests. However, a consistent point of concern is its relatively low 440 TBW endurance rating for a 2TB drive, which is significantly less than some competitors. Users appreciate its power efficiency for portable devices and the ease of installation. The drive's performance in medium workloads and random 4K operations can be less competitive.
“Needed more space for my Steam Deck games, this 2TB P310 fit right in and now everything loads so much faster, but man, that TBW rating makes me nervous about how long it'll last with all my installs.”
Common Praise
- Achieves sequential read speeds up to 7,100MB/s, making game loads and boot times faster.
- Fits perfectly into handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally.
- Provides 2TB of storage in a tiny M.2 2230 form factor, allowing for larger game libraries.
- Operates with low power consumption, which helps extend battery life in portable devices.
- Installation is straightforward and quick.
- Maintains stable performance even in its small size.
Common Complaints
- The 440 TBW endurance rating is low for a 2TB drive, raising concerns for heavy write users.
- Performance can dip during prolonged, large file transfers once the HMB cache is full.
- Medium workload and random 4K performance are not as strong as its sequential speeds.
- Some users noted that the price can be higher than other 2230 drives with better endurance, or larger 2280 drives.
Ownership Tips
- The drive runs cool enough that a heatsink isn't typically needed, even in compact devices.
- Actual usable space in Windows is around 1.81 TB for the 2TB model.
- Transferring hundreds of gigabytes at once can reveal the limits of the QLC NAND and HMB, with speeds dropping after initial cache.
- It's often compared favorably to other 2230 drives in linear performance but falls behind in sustained heavy write scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this SSD compatible with the Steam Deck?
Yes, the Crucial P310 2TB M.2 2230 SSD is specifically designed and compatible with the Valve Steam Deck.
What are the read and write speeds of this SSD?
It offers sequential read speeds of up to 7,100MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 6,000MB/s.
Does this SSD require a heatsink?
The drive does not come with a heatsink and is generally considered not to need one due to its power efficiency and small size, especially in handheld devices.
What is the endurance rating for this 2TB drive?
The 2TB model has a write endurance (TBW) rating of 440 TBW.
Is this a DRAM-less SSD?
Yes, the Crucial P310 is a DRAM-less SSD, utilizing Host Memory Buffer (HMB) for caching.
Buying Guide
When you're looking at M.2 2230 SSDs, especially for handhelds, the physical size is non-negotiable – it has to fit. Beyond that, you're balancing capacity, speed, and how long the drive can handle writes. For gaming, sequential read speed impacts game load times and boot-up, while write endurance (TBW) matters if you're constantly installing, uninstalling, and moving large files. Power efficiency is also key for battery-powered devices.
M.2 2230 Form Factor
This refers to the physical dimensions of the SSD: 22mm wide and 30mm long. It's crucial because many handheld gaming devices and ultrabooks only have space for this specific, smaller size, unlike the more common 2280 (80mm long) drives.
PCIe Gen4 NVMe Interface
This is the connection type and speed standard. PCIe Gen4 is the current high-performance standard, allowing for much faster data transfer than older PCIe Gen3 or SATA connections. NVMe is the protocol that enables these speeds, acting like a super-fast highway for your data.
Sequential Read/Write Speed (e.g., 7,100MB/s read)
These numbers tell you how fast the drive can read or write large, contiguous files, like when you're loading a game or transferring a big video. Higher numbers mean faster loading screens and quicker file copies.
TBW (Terabytes Written)
This is an endurance rating, indicating how many terabytes of data can be written to the drive over its lifetime before it might start to degrade. Think of it like a mileage rating for your car; a higher number means it's designed to last longer under heavy use.
Alternatives
If this drive's endurance is a concern, look for 2230 SSDs with higher TBW ratings, often indicating TLC NAND. If you need more consistent performance under heavy, sustained writes, consider drives with a dedicated DRAM cache.
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